The Food Standards Agency’s updated Codes of Practice and Practice Guidance mark a decisive move towards risk-based, flexible food law enforcement. For food businesses, this means smarter inspections, innovative compliance methods and a renewed focus on consumer trust.

Published 6 January 2026

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has published updated Food Law Codes of Practice (Codes) and Practice Guidance (Guidance) for England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

What is the Code of Practice and Practice Guidance?

The Code is written by the FSA and issued by the Secretary of State and is directed at competent authorities (local authorities and port health authorities) responsible for delivering official controls and other official activities.  The Code outlines how competent authorities can ensure the quality, consistency, effectiveness and appropriateness of official controls and activities.

Competent authorities have a statutory duty to:

• enforce the requirements of food law
• have regard to the Code
• discharge their statutory duties as effectively as possible, using means that are most appropriate to the circumstances

If competent authorities fail to consider the relevant provisions of the Code, their decisions or actions can be subject to legal challenge.

The Guidance complements the statutory Code and provides general advice on the approach to enforcement of the law where its intention might be unclear.  The Guidance is not statutory guidance but provides illustrative, non-exhaustive, examples.

What is the update?

Following consultation and engagement with local councils (local authorities and port health authorities, etc.) and other key stakeholders, the changes are designed to help local councils target resources to where they make the most difference to public health outcomes.

The updated Codes and Guidance reflect the FSA’s wider commitment to modernise the food safety system in response to evolving food practices, changing consumer habits and ongoing pressures in the food industry.

Key updates include:

• a more flexible, risk-based approach to prioritising initial official controls of new food businesses, allowing the flexibility for local councils to triage businesses when they first register
• greater use of alternative control methods, including, for example, remote assessments to allow for a more efficient use of resource
• broadening who can undertake certain activities to support delivery of official controls to ensure that expertise is dedicated to where it can have the most impact

Rachel Cooper, Director of Strategy and Regulatory Compliance at the FSA said:

“This update helps ensure that local councils have a more flexible, risk-based approach to carry out their vital work in a way that’s both effective and sustainable.  The changes we’ve made will strengthen the consistency of food law enforcement, support officer development and enhance consumer protection.”

The Codes and Guidance are available here.